Woman Accused of Fleeing From Police, Driving Drunk With Open Liquor Bottles in Paragould

PARAGOULD, Ark. — A Paragould woman is facing multiple charges after allegedly fleeing from officers and nearly causing a head-on collision during a suspected drunken driving incident, according to a probable cause affidavit from the Paragould Police Department.

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Officers were dispatched to Carter Express on Jones Road around June 4 after receiving reports of a woman screaming and acting irate outside the business. Upon arrival, officers found a white Kia Optima occupied by a woman later identified as Nita L. Osswald, 50.

Police said Osswald began driving away as they approached. She reportedly made a U-turn and headed back toward the officers, who instructed her to stop. Instead, she drove out of the parking lot and onto Jones Road, prompting officers’ concerns that she might be impaired.

According to the affidavit, another officer initiated a traffic stop after spotting the vehicle, but Osswald continued driving, reaching speeds of approximately 56 mph and running a red light at the intersection of Linwood Drive and Finch Road. Officers said she nearly struck another vehicle head-on before pulling over along the roadside, where she was taken into custody.

Police said Osswald appeared intoxicated and noted two open bottles of alcohol inside the vehicle — one in the cupholder without a lid and another in the passenger seat.

At the police department, Osswald reportedly refused to comply with standardized field sobriety tests but agreed to a breath test. Her blood alcohol content was measured at 0.24, according to the affidavit. She requested a second test at her own expense and was taken to Arkansas Methodist Medical Center, where officers said she became irate, yelled, pulled away from them, and spat on the floor. The hospital denied the second test due to financial reasons, according to police.

Osswald is being charged with fleeing, a Class D felony; reckless driving, a Class B misdemeanor; disorderly conduct and possession of an open alcohol container, both Class C misdemeanors; and driving while intoxicated, an unclassified misdemeanor.

All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

(mugshot not available as of this publication)